Bowling alley backstop



Dec. 29, 1942.

l. H. McGl-LL I BOWLING ALLEY BAGKSTOPv Filed Aug. 9. 19141 a W@ a Patented Dec. 29, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT oEElcE 2,306,825 BOWLING ALLEY BACKST'OP Irvin H. McGill, Upper St. Clair Township, Allegheny County, Pa

Application August 9, 1941, Serial No. 406,191

6 Claims.

construction that will take the impact of balls without giving them enough rebound, in ordinary circumstances, to cause them t0 fall out of the ball pit of a bowling alley.

Another object of the inventionis so to form the backstop that it can be reversed, after part of its front surface has become worn, to bring another part of the surface to position to receive ball impact.

It also is an object to provide a swingable backstop in association with means to limit its rearward swing under ball impact so that balls are not liable to roll thereunder.

Furtherfan object of the invention is to provide a bowling alley end structure that includes a swingable backstop, rigid and strong supports therefor, and an upwardly swingable door that limits backward swing of the backstop and also permits easy access to the ball pit to reverse the backstop and to clean out the pit.

When considered with the description herein, characteristics of the invention are apparent in the accompanying drawing, forming part hereof, wherein parts of the rear end of a bowling alley are shown for purpose of explanation.

Like reference-characters refer to corresponding parts in the Views of the drawing, of which- Fig. l is a rear elevation;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2, Fig. l.

The pit of the bowling alley with which the structure of the invention is associated is shown as having a floor 3 of concrete. A transverse plank 4 is set into the floor at its rear end and held therein by lag bolts 5.

Upright timbers 6 are anchored in and extend upwardly from the floor in front of the plank 4 as side supporting members of the backstop structure. The timbers carry transverse members l, which may be strong wood planks one on top of the other. A facing plank or member 8 is secured to the front of and depends below the members l.

spaced bolts 9 extend downwardly through and are carried by the transverse members 1. Each bolt has a hook I0 or other pivotal connecting means at its lower terminal. The hooks are behind and are protected by the facing member 8. The hooked bolts carry a backstop pad structure II.

The pad structure includes a rectangular frame Vthe upper and lower members I3. members of the framethat is Vthe side members formed of strong and rather thick and heavy plank members. These elements of the frame are outer side members I2, the upper and lower ends of which are lapped by and secured to upper and lower cross members I3, and inner side members Ill abutting the members I2, and having their upper and lower ends lapped by and secured to upper and lower cross members I5, which abut The inner i4 and upper and lower members I5-are of less width than the outer frame members, with their front edges in the front plane of the latter members, and with their rear edges thus inset from the back plane ofthose members.

The front edges of the frame members carry padding I5. A blanketvI'I, of leather, canvas, or other suitable sheet material, constituting the frontI wall of the backstop pad, is stretched over the fro-nt of the frameY and secured to the outer members I2 and I3. A rear wall I8 of the pad is secured to the rear edge of the inner frame members I4 and I5. It thus is inset from the rear plane of the outer members I2 and I3. The space inclosed between the front and rear walls li and I8 and top, bottom, and side frame members is stu'ed with any suitable material I9, such as scrap leather for example. f

The pad structure is swingably suspended on the hooks I0 by rods or bolts 20 having eyes 2l or other pivotal connecting means at each end capable of engaging the hooks. The rods or bolts extend vertically through the upper and lower frame members and through the pad. They serve not only as pad suspension means, but also contribute to maintenance of the frame members together.

Bowling balls', for the most part, strike the lower portion of the pad. When that portion becomes worn, it is easy to lift the pad structure from .the hooks, turn it over, and engage the then top eyes with the hooks.

The pad structure is of such size with respect to the floor of the pit and the side supporting members 6 that there is just enought clearance to permit free swing of that structure in response to ball impact. Consequently, there is little danger of balls getting behind the pad.

The hooks I 0 are housed behind the facing member 8, and thus they are protected from damage by flying balls and the balls are prevented from going over the pad. Moreover, the relative position of the lower edge of the facing member to the top of the pad frame when in normal position is such that forward swing of the frame on returning from back swing under ball impact is limited.

Side members 22, one on each side at the rear of the backstop pad, are connected to the plank 4 and extend upwardly therefrom to the transverse members 7 to which they are secured. The side members 22 taper on their rear sides from broad bases to the top, and they constitute walls of the space back of the backstop pad.

A door 23 is mounted at the top by hinges 24 secured to the side members 22. The door is formed of transverse planks 25 held together by side members 26, the latter being disposed outside of the members 22 when the doorV is closed. Normally the door is closed in an inclined position against the rear edges of the side members 22. When access from the rear to the backstop pad and the ball pit is desired, the door may be opened by being swung upwardly to the position indicated in Fig. l.

Ordinarily, when the bowling alley is in use, the door is not locked closed. Its closed inclined position alfords space for normal backward swing of the backstop pad under ball impact. If that swing is abnormal, the door may swing outwardly if the pad strikes it, and thereby the pad is gradually restrained from farther backward movement. The rebound or forward swing of the pad is limited by contactat the top with the lower edge of the facing plank 8.

I claim: n

1. In a bowling alley or the like, a rear end structure comprising a pit oor, upright side members extending upwardly thereabove, a cross member supported by said side members above said floor, a backstop frame swingably hung on said cross member, and a door hinged at the top back of said frame and contactable by the latter to limit its backward swing.

2. In a bowling alley or the like, a rear end structure comprising a pit iloor, upright side members extending upwardly thereabove, a cross member supported by said side members above transverse member engageable with said connecting means on either end of said rods.

4. In a bowling alley or the like, a backstop, rods extending vertically therethrough and each having an eye at each end, a transverse supporting member above said backstop, and hooks depending from said member engageable with said eyes.

5. In a bowling alley or the like, a rectangular backstop frame, pivotal connecting means on the opposite horizontal sides thereof, a transverse supporting member above said frame, and pivotal connecting means on said member engageable with the connecting means on either of the horizontal sides of said frame.

6. In a bowling alley or the like, a backstop frame comprising outer side members, upper and lower outer cross members lapping the ends or" and secured to said outer side members, inner side members abutting said outer side members, and upper and lower inner Cross members abutting said outer upper and lower cross members and lapping the ends of said inner side members, said inner members being of less width than said outer members and having their rear edges inset with respect to the rear edges of said outer members, and a pad on said frame comprising a front wall secured to the front of said outer frame members and a rear wall secured to the inset rear edges of said inner frame members.

IRVIN H. MCGILL. 

